McHenry County will need to spend nearly $60,000 to cover law library bills dating to 1997.
The County Board’s Finance Committee voted 5-0 Tuesday to recommend paying $59,805 to West Group, a publisher of law library materials used by judges, public defenders, county prosecutors and private attorneys.
Nearly $50,000 of the payment would come out of the county’s fiscal 2000 contingency fund. The remainder was set aside from last year’s budget.
County Auditor Ruth Rooney said the back payments stem from contracts former Information Services Director Carl Pohrte entered into without the knowledge of county administrators or board members. Pohrte resigned in 1998.
The county began negotiating with West Group last year. Chief Deputy Auditor Pam Palmer said the agreed amount is $13,000 less than West Group was originally seeking.
County auditors turned up 18 accounts that did business with West Group. Palmer said the county Purchasing Department is consolidating the purchase of law library materials into three accounts to keep better track of purchases and payments.